Jim Hunter, the chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, criticised gillies and bailiffs who are opposing the Land Reform Bill which will enable crofters to buy rivers from landowners, even if they are not for sale.

River workers belonging to the Crofting Counties Fishing Rights Group recently likened the executive's proposals to a "Mugabe-style land grab" and claimed hundreds of jobs would be lost if the plans are passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Dr Hunter defended the land reform proposals at the annual general meeting of the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust in Inverness saying it would benefit the Highland economy.

He suggested that sporting estates made little contribution to the economy in comparison to the money brought into remote areas by walkers, climbers and birdwatchers. He praised those landowners who had embraced reform but in a comment directed at the fishing rights group he called on lairds to "tell the landowning lobby's lunatic fringe to take a dive into the nearest salmon river".

His remarks echoed those of Brian Wilson, the Trade and Industry Minister, who last week claimed the fishing rights group was a front organisation for landowners. Mr Wilson's claims were vigorously denied by the group. David Cotton, the group's clerk and an estate factor at Strath Halladale in Sutherland, said he "very much resented" Dr Hunter's comments.

"It is becoming very unpleasant what these people are doing," he said. "Jim Hunter is supposed to be chairman of a quango to bring investment to the Highlands. People only invest money when there is confidence and when things like this are said that reduces confidence."

Mr Cotton added: "This is not constructive for the return of expenditure and traditional sportsmen."